In an April 1965 file photo, the baseball field and seats at the Houston Astrodome are seen through a fish-eye lens in Houston.

In an April 1965 file photo, the baseball field and seats at the Houston Astrodome are seen through a fish-eye lens in Houston.

Photo: AP

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The Astrodome scoreboard lit up in 1965 to welcome President Lyndon Baines Johnson to the world's first indoor baseball game.

The Astrodome scoreboard lit up in 1965 to welcome President Lyndon Baines Johnson to the world's first indoor baseball game.

Photo: Curtis McGee, Houston Chronicle

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Colt .45 President Roy Hofheinz, right, shows National League president Warren Giles some features of the Astrodome in September 1964.

Colt .45 President Roy Hofheinz, right, shows National League president Warren Giles some features of the Astrodome in September 1964.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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Elvis Presley performs at the 1970 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in the Astrodome.

Elvis Presley performs at the 1970 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in the Astrodome.

Photo: Fred Bunch, Houston Chronicle

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Presley made six appearances over three days at the Houston rodeo. His Saturday evening performance broke all rodeo attendance records with a crowd of 43,614.

Presley made six appearances over three days at the Houston rodeo. His Saturday evening performance broke all rodeo attendance records with a crowd of 43,614.

Photo: Fred Bunch, Houston Chronicle

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BREWSTER McCLOUD - filmed in Houston Astrodome

BREWSTER McCLOUD - filmed in Houston Astrodome

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Houston Astro Craig Reynolds is congratulated by his teammates after he drove in the winning run with a single in the 10th inning of a game in 1983.

Houston Astro Craig Reynolds is congratulated by his teammates after he drove in the winning run with a single in the 10th inning of a game in 1983.

Photo: Tim Johnson, UPI

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In this Aug. 2, 2002 file photo, an aerial view of Reliant Stadium, the new home of the Houston Texans and the Astrodome, former home of the Houston Oilers is shown in Houston.

In this Aug. 2, 2002 file photo, an aerial view of Reliant Stadium, the new home of the Houston Texans and the Astrodome, former home of the Houston Oilers is shown in Houston.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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A large crowd attends a rally, January 26, 1961, in support of passing the stadium bonds to finance construction of the proposed domed stadium (Astrodome).

A large crowd attends a rally, January 26, 1961, in support of passing the stadium bonds to finance construction of the proposed domed stadium (Astrodome).

Photo: Gordon Adkins, Houston Chronicle

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A record crowd of 52,693 saw Houston win the nation's basketball game of the year, UH vs. UCLA, in 1968.

A record crowd of 52,693 saw Houston win the nation's basketball game of the year, UH vs. UCLA, in 1968.

Photo: Owen Johnson, Houston Chronicle

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Local media and invited guests take a tour of the Astrodome in June 2010.

Local media and invited guests take a tour of the Astrodome in June 2010.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

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Vintage logos of yesteryear decorate the Reliant Astrodome in 2010.

Vintage logos of yesteryear decorate the Reliant Astrodome in 2010.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

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Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

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The world famous multicolored seats of the Astrodome.

The world famous multicolored seats of the Astrodome.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

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Entrance to field-level seats.

Entrance to field-level seats.

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Field-level seats.

Field-level seats.

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Dusty seats.

Dusty seats.

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Football configuration.

Football configuration.

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Oilers locker room.

Oilers locker room.

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Oilers locker room.

Oilers locker room.

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Showers in Oilers locker room.

Showers in Oilers locker room.

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Oilers locker room.

Oilers locker room.

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Stairwell down to area behind home plate.

Stairwell down to area behind home plate.

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Yes, it's really this dark in here. This is at the field entrance behind home plate.

Yes, it's really this dark in here. This is at the field entrance behind home plate.

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This might be where home plate was. Not sure.

This might be where home plate was. Not sure.

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Astros locker room.

Astros locker room.

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Sink in Astros locker room.

Sink in Astros locker room.

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Astros locker room.

Astros locker room.

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Astros locker room.

Astros locker room.

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Remember when we had to walk these ramps to get to our seats?

Remember when we had to walk these ramps to get to our seats?

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Video control room.

Video control room.

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Star Columbia suites hallway.

Star Columbia suites hallway.

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Old Zenith inside Star Columbia suites.

Old Zenith inside Star Columbia suites.

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Filmmakers need your help to finish Astrodome movie

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As Houston prepares to decide whether or not to knock down the Astrodome, a pair of filmmakers is preparing to bring its story to theaters or TV.

Houston filmmakers Chip Rives and David Karabinas have created a Kickstarter account to solicit funds to finish their film about the Eighth Wonder of the World, the fate of which will be in the hands of Houstonians on Nov. 5.

"It's been a hard sell because there has been no clear fate for the building," says Rives. After Nov. 5, that fate will be known and it could be easier to fund the film.

Earlier this month, construction crews demolished the ticketing booths at the stadium in anticipation of either outcome of the upcoming vote.

Production began in 2009 on the documentary, and a trailer has been circulating on the web since then.

The duo has already interviewed several prominent people connected to the domed stadium, snagging Former President George H.W. Bush, Tal Smith, John McClain, Bum Philips, Fred Hofheinz, Nolan Ryan and others. They have gathered press clippings and newsreel footage of the construction, too.

Former Houston Oilers QB Dan Pastorini was interviewed inside the Dome early on in the production and can be seen in the trailer walking through the dusty building, now mostly used for Reliant complex storage. Rives says they were the last film crew allowed inside, spending four days in the building exploring every nook and cranny.

Rives spent weeks inside the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History in Austin poring over volume after volume of Dome-related materials. Artifacts, floor plans, blue prints, original films are all in there. Someone had the foresight to catalog the construction for future eyes.

Getting financing for the project has been rough, according to Rives, who runs a production company out of Austin with Karabinas. They do work for ESPN, NFL Films, and have a reality series coming up soon for the new Esquire television network.

Most sports networks and financiers want there to be a clear, decided end for the Dome before they will put money down. That's what they need really: a sports network with deep pockets that is dedicated to funding sports documentaries. Something like ESPN's popular 30 for 30 doc series would be a perfect fit, Rives says.

Now all they need to round out the story of the Astrodome is to get the rights to NFL and Major League Baseball footage, acquire music licensing, get a few more interviews in the can, and put the finishing flourishes on the picture.

Rives says that the cost for vintage NFL footage can start at $100 a second and go even higher.

They would still like to speak with Earl Campbell, Billie Jean King, and country legend George Strait for the film too. All three are forever linked to the building.

"It's hard to quantify how much money we have put into the film," says Rives, on his way to a shoot. "I'm not trying to get rich. This is a passion project."

Rives spends a lot of time at Reliant Stadium for work and hears stories about the Dome next door, which only serve to continually reignite his drive to finish the film.

"The greatest memories of my youth are sitting in that building," he says. In fact, Rives and Karabinas attended middle school and high school together here in the Houston area.

The last chapter of the movie could either be its rebirth as a convention hall or its demolition, says Rives.